As an aside, there were no jazzy graphics to go with the announcement, no whizz-bangs, no dancing girls, no fireworks and, disappointingly it has to be said, no t-shirt cannons firing low-grade leisurewear into the assembled crowd. Which would have been weird considering the assembled crowd were journalists and suits of various sorts, but everyone needs a free promotional t-shirt, don’t they?

No, instead the announcement was made by the understated McGinley, before the names, on small placards, were slotted into a traditional board on the wall.

His loom band bracelets flashing proudly on his wrist, McGinley says he is concerned about Gallacher’s rookie status, but says he has done plenty to earn his place. “He needed a big performance last week,” says McGinley. Gallacher’s first words upon hearing he was in were “that’s brilliant, wee man.”

McGinley’s now taking questions from the floor. About Gallacher, he says his performance last week in Italy “under the spotlight, was huge.” He makes reference to his own similar showing back in 2004. There’s then plenty of talk about finishing lines.

“I’m a very lucky man to have such a variety of talent to choose from,” says McGinley. “It was a very difficult call. I think we have three players that will make the European team as strong as it needs to be to compete with the might of America.”

José Maria Olazábal made a wonderful point two years ago when people were talking about, ‘Are you going to pick a player because you like or don’t like them?’ He said: ‘This is the Ryder Cup. I’m here to win the Ryder Cup,’

Personal things go out of the window and that’s what it will be for me. I am prepared for the tough decisions, I am not afraid to make those.

Dave Boyle writes in with some alternative thoughts: “I love Westwood, but he’s too far down both rankings to be considered without extreme criticism coming McGinley’s way. Poulter is just outside and should be rewarded for his performances at Medinah. Gallacher seems a shoe in given his form so to my mind that leave’s one place up for grabs.

“It’s got to be between Luiten, Donald and Jimenez. I would take Jimenez, time after time in the majors this guy shows up, proving his big time mentality, and his charisma should really benefit the team. However I suspect it will be Donald with Jimenez there as a vice captain.”

Let the wild speculation begin! Johnny Ryder Cup himself Ian Poulter seems to be a shoo-in because of his miraculous past record in the match, despite a rather desperate record at Gleneagles (he’s never made the cut at the course), so there are basically four other candidates for the other two spots.

Steven Gallacher’s near-thing at the Italian Open at the weekend put him within a hair of qualifying for the team outright, which would seem to suggest his candidacy is pretty strong. However, McGinley might be wary about including another rookie given Victor Dubuisson and Jamie Donaldson will be first-timers too, and Gallacher’s career singles record in matchplay events is...well...

A negative for Gallacher - his career singles record in matchplay (Eurasia Cup, WGC, Royal Trophy, Seve Trophy, Volvo) is played 7, lost 7!!

That leaves Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari. The latter’s relatively poor record in past Cups might tend to suggest he could miss out, while Luke Donald’s shonky season could count against him too, despite his past excellent - he’s never played in a losing Walker or Ryder Cup side. That leaves Westwood as the favourite, whose poise under pressure and reputation as a good locker room influence very much count in his favour.

Welcome, hello and welcome once more to the announcement of Paul McGinley’s wildcard selections for that Ryder Cup hoopla that people are rather jazzed about. We’ll get onto wildly (or, perhaps, not so wildly) speculating about who the three names might be in a moment, but to thoroughly whet your golfing appetite for the joy ahead, here’s what went down last time. Spoiler: it was decent, from a European point of view.

Whatever criticism may be thrown the way of Paul McGinley when announcing his Ryder Cup wild-card selections – and some is inevitable – there can be no suggestion of the Irishman making them on a whim – or, for that matter, on the grounds of emotion only.

McGinley has taken levels of analysis to new levels in his quest to select the best three players to supplement what already looks a formidable European team. On Tuesday lunchtime at Wentworth the captain will reveal his chosen three. McGinley has always stressed his selections would be perfectly logical, which is entirely in keeping with his approach to captaincy.